Billing code 59320: Cervical cerclageMedicare rate & RVUs in Georgia
Reports placement of a vaginal cervical stitch during pregnancy when mechanical support is needed for cervical insufficiency and risk of pregnancy loss or preterm birth.
CMS doesn’t publish an office rate for 59320 in Georgia.
Medicare allowed amount for participating (non-QP) physicians, before deductible, coinsurance and claim adjustments. Not a patient’s bill or a hospital charge.
On this page 9 sections
What 59320 covers
An obstetrician-gynecologist places a reinforcing suture around the cervix through the vagina during pregnancy when cervical insufficiency creates concern for pregnancy loss or preterm birth. The procedure is typically performed in an operating room or procedure setting, often with anesthesia. This code identifies the vaginal route, rather than abdominal placement.
Report 59320 for vaginal placement; documentation should identify the pregnancy, clinical indication, route, and cerclage performed. The code has a 0-day global period, so same-day preoperative and postoperative care is included. If another procedure is performed in the same session, the highest-valued procedure is paid in full and the others are reduced to 50%. Assistant-at-surgery payment requires documentation of medical necessity; co-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted.
This summary was written with AI assistance from CMS physician fee schedule data and checked against the CMS billing rules shown here. Rates on this page come directly from CMS files.
Where 59320 pays more and less in Georgia
| Payment locality | Office | Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Atlanta | Unavailable | $143.30 |
| Rest Of Georgia | Unavailable | $139.10 |
How the 59320 rate is calculated
Each of 59320’s three RVUs is multiplied by a geographic index (GPCI) for the payment locality, added up, and multiplied by the conversion factor. Drag the indexes or enter a ZIP to see what moves the rate.
How the rate is built · 59320
RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor
Work2.42
2.42 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Practice expense0.90
0.90 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Malpractice0.79
0.79 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI
Adjusted RVUs
4.1100
Conversion factor
$33.4009
Medicare rate
$137.28
Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.
Payment rules and modifiers for 59320
The CMS indicators that decide how 59320 is paid alongside other services.
CMS payment indicators · 59320
Cervical cerclage
| Rule | CMS value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Global period | 000 | Same-day global: pre- and post-op care on the day of the procedure is included. |
| Multiple procedures | 2 | Standard reduction: highest-valued procedure at 100%, others at 50%. |
| Bilateral (modifier 50) | 0 | The 150% bilateral adjustment doesn’t apply. |
| Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS) | 0 | Not paid without supporting documentation. |
| Co-surgeons (62) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Team surgery (66) | 0 | Not permitted. |
| Professional/technical | 0 | Physician service: no professional/technical split. |
What modifiers do to the payment
Modifier 51 · payment effect
With and without the modifier
59320 without 51 · national facility
$137.28
Cervical cerclage
59320-51 · Second procedure: 50%
$68.64
When this isn’t the highest-valued procedure in the session, Medicare pays 50% of its fee schedule amount (the highest is paid at 100%).
59320 compared with similar codes
Compare codes · National
4 codes, side by side
How to choose
- 59325Cervical revision
- This code is for vaginal cerclage placement during pregnancy; 59325 identifies abdominal placement.
- 59871Cerclage removal
- 59871 describes removal of a cerclage suture under anesthesia, not placement of the vaginal cerclage.
- 59300Obstetric repair
- 59300 concerns episiotomy or vaginal repair, not placement of a reinforcing suture around the cervix during pregnancy.
59320 billing questions
How does 59320 differ from 59325?
59320 is for vaginal placement of the cerclage. Use 59325 when the cerclage is placed through an abdominal approach.
What documentation supports 59320?
Document the pregnancy, the clinical reason for cervical support, the vaginal approach, and that the cerclage was placed.
Is same-day care included?
Yes. The 0-day global period includes same-day preoperative and postoperative care.
How is 59320 paid with another procedure in the same session?
The highest-valued procedure is paid in full, and other procedures in the session are reduced to 50%.
Can an assistant surgeon be reported?
Assistant-at-surgery payment is allowed only when documentation supports medical necessity. Co-surgeons and team surgery are not permitted.
Is cerclage removal included in 59320?
59320 describes placement. Removal is a separate service when performed; 59871 describes cerclage suture removal under anesthesia.
Where these rates come from
FeeBase calculates base physician payments from CMS work, practice-expense and malpractice RVUs, adjusted by each locality’s geographic indexes and the conversion factor. Services without a published rate are labeled, never given a made-up amount. Amounts are Medicare allowed amounts before claim adjustments: not a patient’s bill or a commercial rate.
CMS RVU26D · effective Oct 1, 2026 through the day before Jan 1, 2027
Show the CMS file lines behind this rate
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